Affording the rent of an apartment on your twenty-something salary seems almost impossible, which is probably why most students out there vouch by the idea that you can’t live with or without a roommate.
Before you seal the deal and move in with your newly found roommate though, you should probably consider the pros and cons of living with a roommate first.

1. Companionship
Pro: You won’t be living alone, and you might just be more at ease whenever you hear creaking floors at night. You’ll also always have someone to help you in when you’ve locked yourself out of your apartment, and even if your roommate isn’t your best friend, it’s still nice to have some company on a daily basis.
Con: Somedays we all just want to be left alone and not engage in any conversations, let alone the friends your roommate tags along to the apartment every so often. When you’re living with a roommate, you’re never totally alone, and when the opportunity does present itself, it’ll be the best few minutes (or weekend) you’ll have in a long time, leaving you questioning the reason why you ever got a roommate in the first place.

2. House Duties
Pro: You hate emptying out the dishwasher, but have no problem with taking out the trash. Your roommate doesn’t mind the dishwasher duties but has a pet peeve against taking out the garbage. It’s a win-win situation. They say that many hands make lighter work, and when things work out in your favor as far as cleaning responsibilities go, the idea of sharing cleaning duties ticks all the right boxes.
Con: The reality is that no two people share the same idea of cleanliness, and what might drive you nuts may not even bother your roommate. At times it may feel like your roomie doesn’t even care about the state of the apartment you guys share.

3. Sharing
Pro: They say that sharing is caring, and having a roommate will mean that you guys share just about everything. You’ll get to share bills, closet space, food, and alcohol. It’s a cost-effective, convenient solution for most young adults out there, and the idea of sharing is probably why you opted into the idea of a roommate in the first place.
Con: Regretting the idea of sharing can come just as quickly as being thankful for it. Sharing hot water, sharing time (while you’re trying to sleep in and your roommate’s starting a party), and sharing clothes are some of the things you’ll ultimately end up regretting.

4. Food
Pro: When your roommate feeds you just because you don’t feel like cooking on a particular night, it’s fantastic. When you have a great roommate, food will probably always be in abundance, and it’s an even bigger score if your roomie is a foodie of sorts. You need to look for a lot of things before choosing your roommate because it helps in many ways.
Con: If you’re the foodie between the two of you and you’ve got a roommate that’s either fond of tuna or the idea of consuming ALL of your food, the whole idea quickly takes a turn for the worse.